Spark-gap stabilizer



Nov. 30 1926. 1,608,824

W. M. SULLIVAN SPARK GAP STABILIZER Filed Jan. 26, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 30,1926. 1,608,824

I w. M. SULLIVAN SPARK GAP STABILIZBR 7 Filed Jan. 26. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2

pi W M am JWXM W.

Patented Nov. 36, 1926.

WALTER M. SULLIVAN, DECEASED; LATE FTIHWARIL-TJE'WJERSEY; BY HARRIET SULLIVAN, NOW BY-M RRIAGEHARRIET rarer-n, Ammnizsrimmmx; orin' ew- ARK, NEW 'J'EES EY;

SPARK-GAE: STABILIZER:

Appl ieati on filed January 26, 49 21, Serial No. 440 14$ This invention relates tq spark stabilizers and 1s part eularly d reetedpto sparirgap stabilizers.

An objectof this invention" is to pr oyideimproved sonorityfor spark gap means,

particularly forusein radio transmission, and i for increasing generally the e'fii eieney of damped osciliationltransniitting sets. In the more preferred forrns of the invention such. 1 improvements are eflected by I spark gap stabilizing means Janene-g tricaiiy conducting electrode located in} {suite t ve t t e r assem 131 t stationary. electrode 1 In carrying but t-he inventio 'i preferably rotary electrqdes K of uniformly distributed sparking points are employed, Y i

Further features and objects of the invention will, be 1110176 ifully .understopd from the l win r t nd t e; ss mia n i s drawings, in Wi110i1- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View of va transmission, cireuitembodying ,the invention; Fig'sYQVand are respeetively detaiLside n ndt sv isn 011 e s d sls showing an eight toothedwrot'ary electrode and a stationary e1eetrodeandaspark gap stabilizer in a ceordance with this in z ent ion; Figsf ifand 5 are/respectively an end ele vationwot one forni of; speeifie embodiment of spark-gap stabilizer and a detaileievation of aneight toothed rotary neinber. Referring to 1, the transmitting cirrruit iihistrated eOLnp -isesa suitable "alternator 1 Whose alternating current Winding Q is connected at its terminal 3 to the con duster a and its opposite terminal 5 connested to the Q eon dnetor ,6. The direct, our rent field windingf'isconnected at one end ofthe lead 8 .cbnneeted to a brush: 9 ofrotor; 10 the other brush 11 beingzeonneqted by the lead 12 time to the condnetor 6. The opposite end of the field winding 7 i'seom nected by the eondu ctor 141 to the terminal 15 of the,distribntingbIoek 16. Theternrinai 15 is eennected to the terminal 17,1of the dis tributing' blpek 16;,thence tethelead 18 conneeti-ng. ith the terminal :19, of the distribr uting block 1 6, 11116110 610,iheitelilniilfli2O; of

the distributi block 16; thence by. the lead are) the Contact seer l thef field s itch as; The con'diietoli fiii's conneeted tothe termina1si 24: and 25 of th-e distribnting bloqig 16 and thence by the lead 26 to the movable contact mill-'27 of the field switch. 28. The Contact 2801 111112 field switch 23 is connected by the 1ead 29 to the dry cell 30 and thence thronghthe,eondnetorfil to the terminal 17, of the distributing block.

Thewkeys 32, 33,; 34 areirespectiveiy connected in parallel andthe respective pairs ofcontaets 35, 36, and, 87, sewa e, V10, which hey Circuits arefli reieri ibiy provided with ;the.winkeriights 41 412 respective ly to indieate to the pilot or observer, the transmission "or; the transmitted message. The, detail co a-ma or the distributing b1ock, its termii lls andronnections are oi any approved iorm.

The cire iit of the alternator is 1 completed on one side through the conductor 6,"ter1ninal flt thenee through any key 32, 33,5 1 thence through the; eonimonreturn. condnq tor. 44g to a terminal 415 otthe primaryAG of the transformer 457: The opposite termi; nal 48 ofithe-primary CQilS isconneeted to i the condlietoif 4.] i

v Secondary coil 19 of the inchiction coiifxi? is corineetedat its terminal 5Oft0 t-he con; duetor 51, thence at52 to the ieadbg and thestationary spark eieetr oc ie 54c. The eon d'uetorbl extends to the adjnstabie eontaet arm. 14 of the indnetanee 56, The opposite telrminalt? of theseeondary eoi1A-9-iscon; nected by the eondiictor 58 to the opposite tern iina1 -59 to the primary inductance 66, of the o sc iliation transformer 56.

The rotary spark electrode GOis disposed in suitable sparking relation with the fined electrode 5 1; and rotated by sui tabie rotat-ing mqflfifiiniziuding a shaft 61 which inay be groundechas by i'neansfoi theejround Wire 62 ieading to the ground 63, v The primary inductance. 56 connected at its terminal 55) by the lead 64 and to the terminal 859i e secondaryv inductance 66, whose mova 1 Contact 67 connected through the hotm; 0 amineter 68 to the terniinal fit) o'f'the varioineter 70, WhQSQ pater terminal? 1 is con} nected by the 'lead TQ ,to the antenna: 7 The .jlead A 61 is preferabiy conneeted by the conductor to; they gronnld fii-l The arm 70-ot' the varionieter 70 is conneeted it a suitabie point fffi to the conductor 72.?

ltl

mg the grounds.

For air plane use of the invention, the shaft 61 of the movable electrode 60 and the conductor 64 of the oscillation transformer 56 may be connected to any suitable counterpoise 63. In such air work, the antenna is of the flying type, as indicated, the effective length of which is controlled by means of the reel 76 and fairlead 77, as will be understood.

It will be understood that the number of teeth on the rotary electrode disk 60 is selected for the desired tone of the signals, the installation of the proper electrode being made in airwork prior to the airplanes leav- The variation of inductance of the sending circuit while in the air, is efi'ected by means of the variometer, for the purpose of tuning the antenna circuit to the wave of the closed oscillating circuit, as indicated.

Coacting with the stationary electrode 54 and the rotary electrode 60 there is provided, in accordance with this invention, spark gap stabilizer means shown as a metallic electrode 80, shown diagrammatical in Fig. 1, which may be grounded or counterpoised or not grounded or counterpoised.

In Figs. 2 and 3, there is shown on a somewhat enlarged scale, the rotary electrode 60, the stationary electrode 54 and a preferred form of stabilizer electrode 80 disposed at one side of the rotary electrode 60 and closely adjacent the fixed electrode 54. In these figures, the stabilizer electrode 80 is shown connected by the conductor 81 to ground or counterpoise 63.

From discoveries made in the use of this invention, an effective distance of the stabilizer electrode 80 from the path of the spark is within the range of one eighth inch to one fourth inch for synchronous rotary spark transmission sets yielding spark tones from 450 to 1800 sparks per second, depending upon the speed of rotation of the rotary electrode 60 in synchronism wit-h the rotor 10 of the alternator 1.

The particular rotary electrode 60 shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is provided with eight teeth yielding approximately 600 sparks per second.

By means of this invention, the stationary electrode may remain in any set position, and need not be adjusted to different positions, as is normally required when substituting rotary disk electrodes of different number of teeth.

The use of the spark gap stabilizer serves also to render the note sharper and smoother, and from the tests made in practical embodiments of the invention, there appears to be a distinct action of the stabilizer electrode with the fixed and rotary electrode to increase the voltage gradient in the vicinity of the spark gap.

In Fig. 4, there is illustrated a practical embodiment of a rotary spark gap provided with the stabilizer, the type of spark gap being any approved form, such as the type where the rotary disk electrode 60 is connected on the rotor shaft 82 of an inductor type alternator driven by an airfan, usually at a constant speed.

In such type of rotary spark gap, the stationary electrode is indicated at 83 and the stabilizer electrode at 84, shown mounted with the opposite end clips 85, 86, snapped onto the opposite posts 87, 88, respectively.

In the particular electrode disk 60 shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the number of teeth is twelve. The disk is provided with the keyway 89 corresponding to the key on the rotor shaft 82 and the disk electrode 60 is located thereon by means of the nut 90.

By reason of the stabilizing effect of the stabilizer electrode, the output of the power transformer is increased and the radiation is increased, and the efficiency of the component parts of the entire transmitting set is also increased.

Whereas I have described the invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a source of con tinuous, alternating currents, of a tuned circuit including a fixed electrode and a rotary electrode, means operating said rotary electrode in synchronism with said source, and a member of electrically conducting material disposed laterally of the path of rotation of said rotary electrode. i

2. The combination with a source of continuous, alternating currents, of a tuned circuit including a fixed electrode and a rotary electrode, means operating said rotary electrode in synchronism wit-h said source, a member of electrically conducting material disposed laterally of the path of rotation of said rotary electrode, and means connecting said electrically conducting material with ground.

3. Thecombination with a source of con tinuous, alternating currents, of a tuned circuit including a rotary electrode and a fixed electrode disposed substantially in the plane of rotation of said rotary electrode, a member of electrically conducting material disposed a fixed distance laterally from the path of rotation of said rotary electrode and means operating said rotary electrode in synchronism with said source.

4. The combination with a source of continuous, alternating currents, of a tuned circuit including a rotary electrode and a fixed electrode disposed substantially in the plane of rotation of said rotary electrode, a member of electrically conducting material disposed a fixed distance laterally from the path of rotation of said rotary electrode and means connecting said member With ground.

5. The combination With a source of continuous, alternating currents, of a tuned circuit including a fixed electrode and a rotary electrode, means operating said rotary electrode in synclironism with said source, and a member of electrically conducting material disposed laterally of the path of rotation of said rotary electrode and adjacent said fixed electrode.

In Witness whereof I affix my signature.

HARRIET S. SULLIVAN, Administmmlm of the Estate of Walter M.

SuZZimm, Deceased. 

